Relative speed gauge intended for the monitoring of a pilotless aircraft

Abstract

The device for checking speed intended for an aircraft ready to land on deck on a moving vehicle, the aircraft having a current vertical speed, called the first speed, and a threshold value of vertical downward speed relating to the vertical speed of the moving vehicle, called the “low threshold”, the ship having an absolute vertical speed, called the second speed, comprises a display and means for receiving data originating from the aircraft, notably its vertical absolute speed. The device includes a calculator making it possible to generate on the display a graduated speed gauge including a fixed cursor indicating the first vertical speed and a second moving cursor indicating the speed of the ship, a third moving cursor indicating the low threshold, the graduation being centered around the value of the first vertical speed.

1. A device for checking speed intended for an aircraft ready to land on deck on a moving vehicle, the aircraft having a current vertical speed, called the first speed, the moving vehicle having a vertical speed, called the second speed, a first setpoint being defined, the said setpoint corresponding to the desired limit of vertical downward speed of the aircraft in relation to the vertical speed of the moving vehicle, the device comprising a display and means for receiving data originating from the aircraft, notably its vertical absolute speed, the device comprising a calculator making it possible to generate on the display a graduated speed gauge comprising a first fixed cursor indicating the value of the first speed and a second moving cursor indicating the value of the second speed, a third moving cursor indicating the first setpoint, the graduation being centred around the value of the first speed. 
     
     
       2. The device for checking speed intended for an aircraft ready to land on deck on a moving vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein a first zone lying between the second and the third cursor comprises a first noteworthy graphical element allowing an operator to check that the first speed is not situated below the said zone. 
     
     
       3. The device for checking speed intended for an aircraft ready to land on deck on a moving vehicle according to  claim 2 , wherein the first graphical element is a colour or a pattern. 
     
     
       4. The device for checking speed intended for an aircraft ready to land on deck on a moving vehicle according to  claim 3 , wherein a second zone situated below the third cursor comprises a second noteworthy graphical element. 
     
     
       5. The device for checking speed intended for an aircraft ready to land on deck on a moving vehicle according to  claim 4 , wherein the second graphical element is a different colour or pattern from the first graphical element. 
     
     
       6. The device for checking speed intended for an aircraft ready to land on deck on a moving vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein a predefined high threshold is generated in the form of a fourth cursor in the gauge corresponding to a maximum limit speed of the aircraft. 
     
     
       7. The device for checking speed intended for an aircraft ready to land on deck on a moving vehicle according to  claim 6 , wherein a zone is situated beyond the fourth cursor and that it comprises a third noteworthy graphical element indicating a danger zone. 
     
     
       8. The device for checking speed intended for an aircraft ready to land on deck on a moving vehicle according to  claim 7 , wherein the third graphical element is a colour or a pattern. 
     
     
       9. The device for checking speed intended for an aircraft ready to land on deck on a moving vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein a predefined low threshold is generated in the form of a fifth cursor in the gauge corresponding to a minimum limit speed of the aircraft. 
     
     
       10. The device for checking speed intended for an aircraft ready to land on deck on a moving vehicle according to  claim 9 , wherein a zone is situated beyond the fifth cursor and that it comprises a third noteworthy graphical element indicating a danger zone. 
     
     
       11. The device for checking speed intended for an aircraft ready to land on deck on a moving vehicle according to  claim 10 , wherein the third graphical element is a colour or a pattern.